Inviting & Replying
Make and answer simple invitations.
Use polite phrases to invite people, accept, and refuse with a friendly reason.
Look & say · Step 1
5 minGet ready
When did someone last invite you somewhere?
What invitation always makes you happy?
How do you say 'no' politely?
Words to learn · Step 2
8 minNew words today
birthday party
Party for a birthday
"Come to my birthday party!"
dinner
Evening meal
"Come to dinner on Saturday."
coffee
Coffee meet-up
"Let's grab a coffee."
film/movie
A movie
"Want to see a film?"
match
Sports game
"Come to the match with us."
concert
Live music
"There's a great concert tonight."
picnic
Outdoor meal
"Let's have a picnic in the park."
drinks
Going out for drinks
"Do you want to go for drinks?"
a walk
Walking together
"Would you like to go for a walk?"
the beach
Coastal area
"Come to the beach with us!"
OK / sure
Quick yes
"Sure, sounds good!"
Maybe next time
Polite 'no' for now
"Maybe next time — thanks!"
Activate · Personalise · Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
birthday party
"For me, birthday party is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
dinner
"For me, dinner is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
match
"For me, match is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Sounds & saying · Step 3
5 minFriendly intonation
Invitations go UP at the end. Refusals go DOWN and use a soft 'Sorry'. Smile when you ask!
- • Would you like to come? ↗
- • Do you want to see a film? ↗
- • Sorry, I can't. ↘
- • Yes, I'd love to! ↗
Language focus · Step 4
10 minWould you like to…? / Do you want to…?
Quick rule
Would you like to…? / Do you want to…?
Make invitations with 'Would you like to + verb?' (polite) or 'Do you want to + verb?' (friendly).
- Accept with 'Yes, I'd love to.' Refuse with 'Sorry, I can't…' + reason.
Pattern
Would you like to come to dinner?
Do you want to see a film tonight?
Yes, I'd love to!
Sounds great — thanks!
Sorry, I can't. I'm busy on Friday.
Question 1.Would you like ___ come to my party?
Question 2.Do you want to ___ a coffee?
Question 3.Yes, I'd ___ to!
Question 4.Sorry, I ___. I'm working.
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.After 'Would you like' use…
Quick check 2.Polite refusal starts with…
Reading · Step 5
7 minA text message chat
🟢 Mia: Hi Sam! Would you like to come to my birthday party on Saturday? 🎂 🟢 Sam: Hi Mia! Yes, I'd love to! What time? 🟢 Mia: From 7 p.m. at my flat. 🟢 Sam: Great! Should I bring something? 🟢 Mia: Just yourself! Maybe a drink if you want. 🍻 🟢 Sam: Perfect. See you on Saturday! 🟢 Mia: Oh, do you want to bring Lucas too? 🟢 Sam: Sure, I'll ask him. He's busy on Saturday afternoon but free in the evening.
Question 1.What is the invitation for?
Question 2.What time does it start?
Question 3.Who else might come?
Q1.Mia asked Sam to bring food.
Q2.Sam accepted the invitation.
Listening · Step 6
10 minPhone call
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Eva
Hi Tom, it's Eva. Are you free on Friday night?
Tom
Hi Eva! Yes, I am. Why?
Eva
Would you like to come to a concert with me? It's a jazz band downtown.
Tom
I'd love to! What time does it start?
Eva
At 8. Shall we meet at 7:30 outside?
Tom
Perfect. How much is the ticket?
Eva
It's 15 euros. I'll buy them now.
Tom
Great. See you on Friday!
Question 1.What is the invitation for?
Question 2.What time does the concert start?
Question 3.How much is the ticket?
Practice · Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.Would you ___ to come?
Question 2.Yes, I'd ___ to!
Question 3.Sorry, I ___ I'm busy.
Question 4.Do you want to ___ a coffee?
Q1.Polite accept: Yes, I'd ___ to!
Q2.Soft refusal: Sorry, I ___.
Survival English · Step 8
4 minSpeaking — make an invitation
Task
Invite your partner to 3 different activities. Your partner accepts 2 and politely refuses 1.
Strategy
Use 'Would you like to…?' or 'Do you want to…?' Give time + place. If you refuse, give a short friendly reason.
Example
A: Would you like to go for a coffee on Sunday? B: Sorry, I can't. I'm visiting my mum. Maybe next week?
Writing · Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write a short text message conversation (6 messages): one person invites, the other accepts/asks questions, then they agree on time and place.
Show model answer
A: Hi! Would you like to come to a picnic on Sunday? B: Hi! Yes, I'd love to. Where? A: At Green Park, 1 p.m. B: Perfect. Should I bring something? A: Just some drinks. B: Great, see you on Sunday!
Speaking · Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: write 2 invitations on slips of paper. Swap and reply — accept or politely refuse.
Useful phrases
- • Would you like to ___?
- • Do you want to ___?
- • Yes, I'd love to.
- • Sorry, I can't. I'm ___.
- • Maybe next time. / How about ___?
- AWould you like to come to my party?
- B_______________
- ADo you want to see a film tonight?
- B_______________
- AShall we meet at 7?
- B_______________
Homework · Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Write 5 invitations and 5 replies.
Record yourself inviting a friend to 3 activities.
Learn 10 social phrases for inviting.
Recap · Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- 🎉 You can invite people in English.
- ✅ You can accept invitations politely.
- ❌ You can refuse politely with a reason.
- 📱 You can write a friendly text chat.